1879. ] 
CAMELLIA NINFA EGEEIA. 
145 
CAMELLIA NINFA EGERIA. 
[Plate 499.1 
# UR figure of this fine, double white 
Camellia, which is certainly one of 
the best, if not the very best of the 
double whites in cultivation, was prepared 
from specimens kindly furnished by Messrs. 
W. Paul and Son, of Waltham Cross, who now 
have, we believe,''quite the best collection of 
these noble greenhouse shrubs to be found in 
the neighbourhood of London, and whose finely- 
grown specimen plants make a display which, 
during the blooming season, it is well worth the 
journey to see. 
Of the variety itself, which we presume is of 
Italian origin, we can say, from our own know¬ 
ledge, that it is exceedingly'^ beautiful, and that 
it is quite in the front rank as to quality; 
fully equal to the old Double White in the 
quality of its flowers—and that is saying much 
in its favour—and superior to it in richness of 
foliage, so that altogether we feel justified in 
stating that it will be found to be better than 
that well known favourite sort. It is robust 
and free in growth, has dark-green broad 
handsome foliage, and blossoms freely. As to 
the individual flowers, they are large in size, 
perfect in form, and pure in colour, and what 
more could be said in their praise ?—T. M. 
Mr. William Paul has published, not long 
since, in the pages of a contemporary,* a some¬ 
what lengthened treatise on the Camellia and 
its cultivation, from which we here select a few 
passages on the renovation of debilitated 
plants :— 
“ How often we meet with Camellias, both 
large and small plants, in what a good culti¬ 
vator would call a ‘ deplorable state.’ Bare of 
branches at their base, the old wood barren, 
and the new growth weak, the leaves small in 
size and sickly in appearance, we look at them 
with aversion rather than with delight. They 
are embodiments of ugliness and weakness, 
instead of personifications of health and 
beauty. 
“ A free use of the knife in pruning, with heat 
and moisture, are the means by which plants 
in that condition may be restored to health 
and beauty. Take them in hand in September. 
Turn them out of their pots or tubs, and make 
sure that the ball of earth is moist all through, 
and drainage satisfactory. It is no uncommon 
thing with Camellias that have been for many 
* Gardeners' Chronicle, N. s., xi., 4G1, et seq. 
No. 22. l.MPEEIAL SERIES. 
years in pots or tubs, to And the centre of the 
ball of earth in which they grow so hard and 
dry as to be almost impervious to moisture. 
This is a most unsatisfactory state of things. 
Plants in pots and tubs have but a limited area 
of soil from which to di’aw the food supplied 
through the roots, and a great part of this has 
become as sterile as the sand of the Sahara. 
The practised hand will know by the weight of 
the ball of earth how far this state of 
things exists, but we know of no rule 
by which the unexperienced can arrive 
at correct conclusions. If any doubt exists, 
the safest way with him is to get an 
ii’on pin about the size of a crow-quill, and 
pierce the ball through and through, both 
perpendicularly and horizontally ; then place 
the balls entirely under water, in tubs or in a 
pond, and leave them to soak for six hours. By 
this means the whole mass will be saturated, and 
not likely to become dry again at the centre, if 
watering be henceforth properly attended to. 
When the plants are put back in the pots or 
tubs, see that perfect drainage is secured, and 
press the soil firmly at the top, so that it may 
lie equally solid from the centre outwards 
towards the circumference. Now thin out 
and cut back the branches freely, leaving the 
plants mere stumps in appearance, but taking 
care to leave a few shoots or leaves to keep up 
the action between roots and branches. 
“ Next place them in a house, and on the turn 
of Christmas apply heat and moisture ; and if 
bottom-heat can be given, it is a point in their 
favour, although this latter condition is not 
absolutely indispensable. A temperature of 
60° by day and 50° by night may be main¬ 
tained, and the syringe should be used freely 
morning and evening. About March the new 
growth will commence. Here and there a 
solitary eye will start into life, and in some 
places along the bare stems, where no sign of 
life was previously seen, clusters of eyes will 
rise into being. Now is the time to refashion 
the plants. Estimate the number of shoots 
required, and mark out the positions they 
should occupy, rubbing out the surplusage. 
As growth proceeds, and the leaves acquire 
some size, weak liquid manure should be given. 
From this time forward these plants require 
the same treatment as Camellias established in 
pots. Debilitated and unsightly plants may 
sometimes be restored in a single year, but it 
sometimes requires two or three years, much 
depending on the age and condition of the 
plant; and beyond this, certain varieties break 
more Heely than others, and are, consequently, 
more easily renovated. 
“ We believe that pruning both of healthy 
